Well it is time to take an epic summer trip with my 12 year old son Brendan. I am taking a sabbatical from work for three months (June, July, August 2015) and we are going to travel in the '87 Westy from Maryland thru Canada to Alaska, then down the Pacific coast via ferries thru the inland passage eventually to Vancouver Island, then thru WA, OR, CA, AZ, UT, WY, and finish in SD before heading home. Total trip time is about 12 weeks. I'll be flying Brendan out from MD to Calgary at the beginning of the trip, and then home from Sioux Falls, SD, so he can maximize his summer break and not have the long travel drives from MD out West and back.

The trip will look something like this. (Although Mapquest only allows 25 destinations and doesn't account for ferry travel).

I'll be asking for lots of advice on places to stay during our travel days thru Canada and Alaska and beyond. Certainly up for driveway camping, or meet for a beer, from fellow sambanites. Once we are in the lower 48 we have reservations at all the National Park campgrounds already. But we'll certainly look for sights to see along the way.

I'm trying to make this trip as comfortable and as interesting as possible for my computer nerd son. He does like being outdoors, and digs camping in the bus, but having access to his laptop and occasional wi-fi is a must.

I'll be using this thread as we travel plus I'm going to break down and get a facebook account to document our travels as well.

I think I am also finally going to start a build thread but it's going to have to be going back about the last 5 to 10 years to get up to date. (Procrastination on posting what I have done is a bad habit.)

Well it has taken a while but I finally put together videos of the trip. I had to break it into 4 parts. Each about 15 minutes long. (Man, it is hard to distill 72 days of travel into something reasonable...)

Anywhere near Niagara Falls, you may want to check out Long Point an hour so west of there. Lots of wonderful Provincial Parks along the trans-Canada.

If you go a little east, ie Syracuse NY and cross into Canada at the top of I81, the Thousand Islands are beautiful. There is a campsite at Wellesley Island (NY) just a few minutes south of the border.

Kakabeka Falls just west of Thunder Bay is a great spot, don't miss it!

Just a caution, check your travel times, the border crossings at Niagara Falls, Buffalo can be quite long depending on when you cross; and the QEW, 400, 401, etc. are some of busiest roads in North America (yes, even busier than LA).

There are 3 border crossings and they post wait times on I90 as you approach Buffalo.

The most direct route north from Buffalo would be to take the QEW to the 407 (toll road, expensive) and then north on the 400 into cottage country. The 400 can be extremely busy heading north and slow especially on Friday's.

The 400 turns into highway 69 and meets the main part of the trans-Canada at Sudbury. There is some beautiful country all the way._________________1971 Super Beetle (past)
1971 Super Beetle (past)
1974 SunBug (past)
1972 914 (past)
1996 'Open Air' Mexican Beetle (current)

This past fall, we drove the entire OR and WA coasts, then inland to Yellowstone NP. The beautiful state parks along the Oregon coast are self-evident, but make a point to swing west at Tillamook for a pleasant drive from Cape Meares SP to Cape Lookout SP.

The drive along Hwy 14 from Yellowstone NP through the Bighorn Mountains to Mount Rushmore was surprisingly dramatic and worth a bit of extra time.

I'm on I90/94 in southern Wisconsin, so add me to your list of potential 'crash' pads.

You will be coming across the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie, your only 10 min from the Niagara Falls on your way to Toronto. Show your son the Falls, one of the "Wonders of the World". Don't get caught up in the tourist stuff just do a drive by.
We live 15min from it and take it for granted everyday.

Thanks for the Canada border crossing advice. I'll be doing it on a Saturday afternoon/evening. Brendan won't be with me for that part (he flies out to Calgary) and I've seen Niagara a couple of times so I'll just pass by the tourist area. _________________Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

I-15 in the "Arizona Strip" is undergoing road construction through the Virgin River Gorge; one lane restriction in both directions. This is the shortest route to the Grand Canyon's North Rim via Vegas, so be prepared for slow-moving traffic (i.e. enjoy the beautiful canyon).

Going ^that way you'll be ever so close to Zion Nat'l Park... worthy of a look-see, IMHO, but it'll be super-busy in the summer. Depending on your route to Moab, there's also Capital Reef, Bryce Canyon, San Rafael Swell, Goblin Valley... lots to see in southern Utah!

Sounds like a fun trip... wish I was going! _________________~Kamz
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction; the world will have a generation of idiots." ~Albert Einstein

Kam, Thanks. We are staying in Arches for 5 nights and will use that as a base to see some of the area. I've camped a lot in that area in my youth and am anxious to get back. _________________Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

Should have a Moab vanagon trail map worked out by that time! Might be able to head down there too if the weekend works out for us. Looks like a fun trip!!_________________1986 Canadian Syncro Westy TDI - 1989 Syncro Single Cab - 2001 Audi S4 - 1981 VW Caddy ABA - 1980 VW Caddy EV - 1973 VW T-181

20ish years ago I crossed the boarder in a 78' Westy on a Ferry across the Great Lakes. Cool experience plus quick/easy. Not sure if that option still exists.

Make sure you plan to drive the Sea to Sky Hyw from Whistler to Vancouver. Also, Avenue of the Giants is a MUST. It parallels Hyw 101 for about 30 miles of Southern Humboldt County on your way south to SF._________________1990 Multivan - "Ohana"
1.8T, Auto w/3.27 R&P + Peloquin TBD

Should have a Moab vanagon trail map worked out by that time! Might be able to head down there too if the weekend works out for us. Looks like a fun trip!!

I would love to get together with a group for some good 2WD (w/ Peloquin) trail runs while we are in that area. We arrive at Arches Aug 8 and depart the 13th. _________________Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

Depending on your timing, may be able to stay at Pukaskwa national park near Marathon, Ontario. It's an amazing place. They have a nice front country campground, and a beautiful lakeside wilderness trail. Neat visitor center too. I lived there for 3 years during my graduate research, and still miss that coastline today. There is also a great Greek restaurant right near the grocery store in town. Well worth it._________________1984 Westy, base model, 2WD. Plus some goodies.
________________________
Sold: 1972 Bay Campmobile

Funny, I thought you were just thinking about getting one and wanted to try one out first. Did you jump the gun or am I thinking of someone else who was headed to Banff this summer?

Good to hear you like it. I have yet to try mine. Hope it's worth it.

Yep, you've got me confused with another traveller. I've had a Peloquin for over 8 years and love every minute of it. I hope to see you in the Calgary area. I plan to arrive 2 to 3 days before my son flies in so I have some cushion in case I need it for the drive out...._________________Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson